One of my closest friends in Washington named Madilynn was recently blessed by something she had waited three years for. Yes, you heard that right: three years.

What was this thing she waited for?

A relationship. And now, it’s not just any relationship—it’s a relationship with a good, godly, kind, funny guy named Cody. Both of them decided that the wait was worth three years for them to both be in a good situation to date.

You see, they prioritized the long-term well-being of their relationship, even if it meant some tears and pain in the waiting.

I admire their courage to wait: they risked the chance of one of them abandoning the possible relationship and decided to trust each other and hope for the best.

In all honesty, I would rather not wait three years for a relationship to happen. (But then again, I’m not the one who wanted to date this guy, so it’s understandable that my friend wanted to wait.) I’m someone who says, “I WANT THIS NOW.”

But as someone who watched their relationship progress from the sidelines, I knew that both of them weren’t ready to commit to a serious dating relationship. Over the two years I lived in WA, so many things happened—good and bad—that both changed and helped the two of them grow as humans, friends, Christians, and future partners.

Through the two years, Madilynn learned how to prioritize friendships over guys, what to do and what not to do in a serious relationship, how to strengthen your faith, and how to serve others—even when it is not your desire.

Through the two years, Cody learned about how his girlfriend is crazy but he still pursued the relationship, he grew closer to God (as well as his now-girlfriends’s best friends), and prioritized his future and faith so that he can be in a better position for a relationship.

These two crazy people (who I love to death) knew that a relationship wouldn’t just affect their relationship with each other but their relationship with God. And that is something incredibly important to know when you enter in a relationship. (Read more about that here.)

You might be interested in a special someone, but you need to ask yourself: is this relationship something I’m ready for? And if not, is this something I am willing to wait for?

In the infamous book, Song of Songs (yes, that Song of Songs), there’s a verse that says this: ‘Promise me, O women of Jerusalem, not to awaken love until the time is right.’ (Song of Songs 8:4 NLT)

If the time is not right, it leads to heartbreak. And sometimes the wait will be worth it: you’ll learn something about yourself, your significant other, and your situation.

Thanks for reading, have a great day!
~Willow